External terminal assembly including a terminal holder coupled to a protection circuit substrate and battery pack including the same

Abstract

An external terminal assembly for establishing a connection between a battery pack and an electrical connector of an external device and a battery pack including the same, the external terminal assembly including an external terminal, the external terminal being electrically connectable to the electrical connector of the external device; a terminal holder on a protection circuit substrate, the terminal holder fixing a position of the external terminal; and a top case covering the protection circuit substrate and the terminal holder, the top case including holes exposing the external terminal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An external terminal assembly for establishing a connection between a battery pack and an electrical connector of an external device, the external terminal assembly comprising:
 an external terminal, the external terminal being electrically connectable to the electrical connector of the external device; 
 a terminal holder on a protection circuit substrate, the terminal holder fixing a position of the external terminal; and 
 a top case covering the protection circuit substrate and the terminal holder, the top case including holes exposing the external terminal, and the top case being configured to attach to a top surface of a cap plate of a bare cell, 
 wherein:
 the terminal holder includes a protrusion, 
 the protection circuit substrate includes a groove, 
 the protrusion is coupled to the groove, and 
 an extending surface of the terminal holder extends below an upper surface of the protection circuit substrate toward the bare cell, the extending surface being different from the protrusion. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The external terminal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the terminal holder is coupled to the protection circuit substrate. 
     
     
       3. The external terminal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a rib at an internal side of the top case, the rib fixing a position of the protection circuit substrate. 
     
     
       4. The external terminal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a holder guide portion at an internal side of the top case, the holder guide supporting at least one side of the terminal holder. 
     
     
       5. The external terminal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the external terminal has a depressed shape into which the electrical connector of the external device is insertable. 
     
     
       6. The external terminal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the external terminal assembly includes a plurality of the external terminals spaced apart from one another, and 
 the terminal holder includes a barrier wall between the external terminals. 
 
     
     
       7. The external terminal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the terminal holder includes an inserting jaw accommodating the external terminal. 
     
     
       8. The external terminal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the extending surface of the terminal holder extends below the upper surface of the protection circuit substrate at one outer side of the protection circuit substrate; and 
 the groove of the protection circuit substrate is at another outer side of the protection circuit substrate, the other outer side being opposite to the one outer side. 
 
     
     
       9. A battery pack that is electrically connectable to an electrical connector of an external device, the battery pack comprising:
 a bare cell including a cap plate including a top surface; 
 a protection circuit substrate including a protection element mounted thereon for controlling charging/discharging of the bare cell; 
 an external terminal assembly electrically connectable to the external device; 
 a terminal holder on the protection circuit substrate, the terminal holder fixing a position of the external terminal assembly; and 
 a top case covering the protection circuit substrate and the terminal holder, the top case including holes exposing an external terminal of the electrode terminal assembly, and the top case being attached to the top surface of the cap plate, 
 wherein:
 the terminal holder includes a protrusion, 
 the protection circuit substrate includes a groove, 
 the protrusion is coupled to the groove, and 
 an extending surface of the terminal holder extends below an upper surface of the protection circuit substrate toward the bare cell, the extending surface being different from the protrusion. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The battery pack as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the extending surface of the terminal holder extends below the upper surface of the protection circuit substrate at one outer side of the protection circuit substrate; and 
 the groove of the protection circuit substrate is at another outer side of the protection circuit substrate, the other outer side being opposite to the one outer side. 
 
     
     
       11. The battery pack as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a holder guide portion at an internal side of the top case, the holder guide portion supporting at least one side of the terminal holder. 
     
     
       12. The battery pack as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the external terminal has a depressed shape into which the electrical connector of the external device is insertable. 
     
     
       13. The battery pack as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the external terminal assembly includes a plurality of the external terminals spaced apart from one another, and 
 the terminal holder includes a barrier wall between the external terminals. 
 
     
     
       14. The battery pack as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a rib at an internal side of the top case, the rib fixing a position of the protection circuit substrate. 
     
     
       15. The battery pack as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the terminal holder includes an inserting jaw accommodating the external terminal. 
     
     
       16. The external terminal assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the top case only exposes the external terminal. 
     
     
       17. The battery pack as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the top case only exposes the external terminal.